Restaurants hopeful as diners return
As of last Friday, patrons can eat indoors for the first time in many months
Windsor's restaurateurs are hopeful last Friday's return to indoor dining will be lasting, after a long year of pandemic closures, takeout and patio dining.
Local bars and restaurants welcomed patrons back indoors Friday afternoon as the province allowed indoor dining under Step 3 of Ontario's reopening plan. The move came not a moment too soon as Friday's downpour left patios deserted.
“We did patios so that was nice, but we've had a lot of rain days lately,” said Marco Maggio, general manager at Vito's Pizzeria and several other local restaurants. “It's nice to get people back inside.”
For Martha Bianchi and Michael Biundo, patrons at Vito's on Friday afternoon, having a table at the Walkerville eatery felt like a taste of normal.
“I'm feeling good about it,” Bianchi said.
The couple said they had been looking forward the return to indoor dining but had enjoyed some patios earlier this summer, especially when they reopened after lockdown. Biundo said he's hopeful indoor dining sticks around this time.
Ontario moved into Step 3 of the province's reopening plan Friday morning, a few days earlier than the expected July 21 target date.
Along with the much-anticipated return to indoor dining — with no limits on the number of people per table — Step 3 also allows fitness and indoor recreation with 50 per cent capacity, indoor social gatherings of up to 25 people and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people.
Ontario is set to remain in Step 3 until at least 75 per cent of people 12 and older are fully vaccinated, with no one health unit in the province having less than 70 per cent fully vaccinated.
Andrew Corbett, co-owner of GOAT Tap and Eatery locations in Lakeshore and Lasalle, as well as The Bull and Barrel in downtown Windsor, said he and his staff were relieved to open restaurant doors.
“We've had a good summer, patios have been going well, but we're excited for indoor dining,” Corbett said, noting Friday's rain made the switch to Step 3 a stroke of good luck.
While they would have wanted to open earlier, Corbett said the restaurants were fortunate to safely open and start getting back to normal Friday.
“It allows us to employ more people because we have more space and can give employees more shifts,” he said.
And at Vito's, Maggio said their customers, especially their regulars, were excited about the option to dine indoors. He said he saw many of those familiar faces Friday, with tables seated before noon and a good day ahead for their staff.
“I hope this is the last time we have to close up and open again,” Maggio said. “We're excited.”